Tag: Physical Fitness

Since I restarted my blog a couple of weeks ago, people, especially those who know me well, have asked me one gut wrenching question:

“If you’re trying to lose weight again, why are you still drinking Coke?”

I understand (and somewhat appreciate) the concern. If I’m going to go to all the trouble to work out on the elliptical machine everyday (or almost everyday) for 45 to 55 minutes, why would I possibly kill much of the results by consuming so many empty calories, not to mention the impact of the carbonation on my body?

Here are my excuses, er, responses for my continued Coke consumption:

I look so much better in photos with a Coke bottle in my hand.

Drinking soda gives the fat around my midsection a sporting chance.

I can’t afford water.

None of your business.

Honestly, I know my next step in losing 45 at 45 is to stop drinking soft drinks altogether. So, over the next several days, I’ll be slowly weaning myself from my favorite beverage using the following amounts:

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle – when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

I wonder the gazelles or the lions trained to run using the 10k trainer app that I’m using. I doubt it, because they’re running to survive and not for fitness sake. Today, as I finished up Week #8 in my program, I was supposed to run for 30 minutes or 3 miles plus 10 minutes of warm up and cool down. I did it, but I thought I was going to pass out. I keep hearing that there’s a magical moment when runner’s euphoria comes over you. I’ve felt some satisfaction in the completion of a run, but the only euphoria I’ve felt is when I get to stop.

I’m supposed to start my 9th week of the program this week. The workout for the first day lasts 54 minutes. I’m supposed to have a simple 5 minute warmup, run for 10 minutes, walk for 1 minute, then repeat the last two 3 more times before walking for a 5 minute cool down. I’m not looking forward to this because of two facts about running: It stinks and I hate it.